Duplex motor.



C. L. WlLKINS.

DUPLEX MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1913.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET mc New nu; r0 "mm- 1040.. wAsNmowm a c CHARLES L. WILKINS, F PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

DUPLEX MOTOR.

1,2ee,oce.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed. April 12, 1913. Serial No. 760,745.

To all whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, CHARLES L. \VILKINs, citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, 111 the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have mvented certain new and use I 1'ul Improvements 1n Duplex Motors; and

I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to motors adapted to be operated by water, air, steam, or other gases.

It pertains particularly to a motor of the duplex type adapted for operating water lifts or other forms of machinery.

The invention relates still more particularly to a duplex motor in which the pistons are controlled and reversed in their direction of travel by driving pressure directed thereto by valves acted on by pressure directed to one of them from one of the main cylinders.

The invention also relates to a duplex motor in which the movement of the piston of one of the main cylinders causes the driving pressure introduced to that cylinder to pass to and operate one of two valves, said valve through the driving pressure operating the other of the valves, each valve controlling the movement of one of the main pistons.

The primary object is to produce a simple form of duplex motor for operating a water lift in which the pressure furnished by said lift through said motor will be practically uniform at all times.

A further object of the invention is to construct a duplex motor in which one of the pistons will be moving practically at all times whereby pressure set up in a pump or lift with which the motor is in control will be practically uniform, that is to say, there will be no fall in the pressure as results where a single cylinder pump is used, or where in a duplex motor, one of the pistons has movement and stops followed by the movement of the other and wherein the pressure consequently falls from the maximum to almost nothing.

Still another object is to provide a valve mechanism that can be adapted for use on main cylinder structures of the duplex type, as constructed by some makers, whereby a duplex pump may have the advantages in the maintenance of a more uniform pressure as outlined above.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line ."12 .r, Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the dart. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on dotted line 3 y, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line .2 2 Fig. 1. Figs. a and 5 are identical with Figs. 2 and 3 but much enlarged.

A indicates a casting constituting the body of the main cylinder structure and provided with a recess B. vVithin the body are two cylinders C, D, preferably constituted by two brass tubes whose ends are suitably secured in the ends of the said casting A.

E represents the main piston in the cylinder C, and F represents the other main piston in the cylinder D.

G is a passage in the bottom of the casting A for conveying away spent water and H is a passage in the wall of the cylinder 0 also for the passage of spent water. In the top wall of the said casting A above the cylinders are four passages J K, L M each having a separate opening through the said top wall of the said casting and communicating with the cylinders, the purpose of which will appear presently, two of them, K L, being visible in the longitudinal section, Fig. 2, and two also being visible in Fig. 1, all of them being indicated in broken lines in Fig. 3. They are indicated in pairs K L, J M the first two communicating with the cylinder C the latter two with the cylinder D. Also in the top wall of the casting are two passages for the discharge of spent water into the recess B referred to. One of the said passages is shown in Fig. 2 at N, and also indicated in broken lines in Fig. 3, as well as a similar passage 0, and each has communication with a valve cylinder to be described.

The casting A includes a front wall A and guides A for the stems of the pistons E F all of which will be clearly understood, while the rear end of the casting is provided with threaded openings closed by plugs PQ thus makingthe cylinders G D pressure tight.

The top surface of the casting A is a plane surface and receives a casting R having a pair of bores to constitute valve cylinders S T, the first receiving a piston U the latter a piston V. Each piston comprises a series of four piston leathers spaced apart by three spacing members 2, 3 and 1, there being created between the leathers chambers 5, 6 and 7 in the cylinder S, and chambers 8, 9 and 10 in the cylinder T. These several chambers are separated in a fluid tight manner by means of the said piston leathers W so that the operating medium in any one of them absolutely cannot have communication with any one of the others. if

The ends of the cylinders S T are closed by suitable plugs 9 there being created chambers 11, 12 in the ends of the cylinder S, and chambers 13 and l l in the cylin der T.

In the middle portion of the cylinder S and spaced from one another are two annular slits 15 and 16, said slits being preferably extended around and through the entire cylinder wall in order to provide for a quick flow of the operating medium, there being portions 17 cast with the outslde of the cylinder wall and forming passages 18 and 18 around the latter at the sides and top, the passages opening through the bottom of the casting and communicating with the passage K L, Fig. 2. The cylinder T has similar annular slits 19 and 19 surrounded by extensions 20 and creating passages 21 and 21 which communicate W1th the passages J M above the cylinder D.

Forming a part of the casting R is a chest 22 which is merely a hollow portion into which the pressure medium is introduced through a pipe 23, said medium communicating with both cylinders S T through a pair of openings 24 and 25 in the cylinder S, and openings 26 and 27 in the cyl nder T, pressure of the medium belng maintalned continuously within the pairs of chambers 5, 7 and 8 and 10.

Communicating with the chamber 11 of the cylinder S is a passage 28 shown n Figs. 1 and 3 in dotted lines. This said passage 28 communicates at its opposite end withthe passage 21 of the cylinder T. Communicating with the opposite end of the cylinder S in the chamber 12 is a passage 29 whose other end communicates with passage 21 of said cylinder T. Communicating with the chamber 13 of the cylinder T is a passage 30 whose other end communicates with the main cylinder C at 31 the position of the passage 31 and its place of entrance in the length of the said cylinder C being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Communicating with the recess 14 of the said cylinder T is a passage 32 whose other end also communicates with the cylinder C at Figs. 1 and 3.

In the operation of the motor the operating medium, for instance, water-,being maintained within the chambers '5, 7 and 8, 10 previously explained, the pistons of both 5 valve cylinders S T lying at the right in said cylinders as seen in Fig.2, let it be supposed that the main piston E is traveling to the right due to pressure water entering the cylinder C through the slit 15 and passage 18 from the chamber 5 and into the passage K. It will thus be seen that this pressure will move the said piston E to the right. The spent water at the other end of the cylinder is forced out through the passage L into the chamber 6 of the cylinder S thence out through passage N in the casting A into the recess B, and finally through the escape G. During this operation said piston E has passed beyond and exposed the opening 33 in the said cylinder C, the pressure in the latter finding its way into the chamber 14 of the valve cylinder T through the passage 32. This shifts the piston in said cylinder T to the left, the spent water from the chamber 13 of the other end of the cylinder being ejected through the passage 30 into the cylinder C through the opening 31 which now is between the heads of the piston E and thus can pass out through the passage H in the bottom of said cylinder C into recess B and out through G. The movement of the piston in valve cylinder T has resulted in moving the two middle piston leathers W to a position where the chamber 10 can communicate with the passage 21 and introduce pressure into it which enters the chamber 12 of the cylinder S through the passage 29 resulting in shifting the piston of that cylinder to the left, exhaust water escaping through passage 28 in chamber 11 of said cylinder through the passage 21 of the cylinder T, chamber 9 and into the opening 0, corresponding to N in Fig. 2, and thence into the recess B and out through G.

In the movement of the piston of the cylinder T as described not only has the pressure water been carried to the cylinder S through the route just named, but pressure water has likewise passed out of the passage 21 of cylinder T into the passage M (Fig. 3) of the cylinder D thereby moving toward the left the piston F which has been lying at the right in said cylinder, this movement continuing until the piston in the valve cylinder S has completed its movement to the left whereupon the chamber '7 is brought into communication with the passage L of the cylinder C, the pressure entering the said cylinder C to return the piston E to the left. As the piston exposes the passage 31 the pressure at once enters said passage, finding its way through the passage 30 into chamber 13 of the cylinder T thus reversing the movement of the piston in the latter. This reversal removes the pressure upon the piston F of the cylinder D from within the passage M and places it within the passage J and upon the opposite end of said piston. As the piston in the cylinder T regains its former position, or that at the right, the pressure from the chamber 8 is through the passage 21 into the passage 28 and recess 11 of cylinder S moving the piston therein to its original position, or that shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the pressure water again moves the piston E to the right, the various actions described being then repeated.

The dotted lines and full lines in Fig. 2 indicate the two extreme positions of the piston in the valve cylinders, it being observed that in the position shown in dotted lines the passage 25 and the passage L are in communication and in full lines the passage 24 and the passage K are in communication. This change also takes place in the valve cylinder T.

In reality the construction and the operation of the motor is quite simple there being merely two passages K L, and J M, for the cylinders C D respectively, which convey the pressure behind the pistons of those cylinders from the valve cylinders S T, two passages leading from one valve cylinder to the-other, and two passages leading from one of the valve cylinders to one of the main .cylinders.

It is observed that the cylinder C is in communication with the valve cylinder T and the movements of the piston E result in the change of position of the piston of said valve cylinder T, while a change in position of the latter effects a change in the position of the piston of the other valve. Again, a change of position of either piston in the valve cylinders results in a change of direction of travel of the pistons of the two main cylinders immediately beneath it. The arrangement described enabled me to have a travel of one of the pistons followed by a travel of the other while the first is in mo tion or in such a way that the one or the other is always in motion, that is to say, for instance, if the piston E is moving to the right the piston F will have reversed and started in the opposite direction before said piston E has finished its full stroke both then moving together in the same direction one slightly in advance of the other. By this means there is a continuous movement of-the pump or lift with which the motor is connected so that water pressure furnished by the said pump or lift remains practically the same at all times with but very little if any variation.

It will be observed that the reversal of the position of the valves and in fact the motor parts is due to the uncovering of inlet ports by the piston of one of the main cylinders and that .the other main piston performs no work of this nature, merely answering to the water pressure introduced to it to perform its own work. This means simplicity of structure and arrangement of parts and a motor that can be produced economically.

In my copending application No. 87 8,004, filed Dec. 18, 1914, I employ a pair of main cylinders and a pair of valves, one of which valves is adapted to direct the pressure medium into one end of one cylinder and at the opposite end of the other cylinder simultaneously in opposite direction, and also to reverse the pressure to direct it into the op posite ends of said cylinders whereby both pistons operate simultaneously in opposite directions. I also employ a second valve operated by pressure from one of the cylinders by which the pressure medium in said cylinder can be directed to the first valve at either end to shift it whereby to change the direction of flow of the pressure medium to the cylinders. But in the present instance each valve separately operates its own piston, the action of the pistons being intermittent in their action rather than continuous. Also as distinguished from said application the pressure medium is introduced to both valves for supply to the cylinders whereas in the application referred to the medium is directed into but one of the valves to be supplied to both cylinders as described.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A duplex motor comprising in its construction a pair of driving cylinders, a separate valve for each cylinder, there being included a pair of passages connecting each valve with its respective cylinder, a pair of conduits connecting one of the cylinders with one of the valves, and a second pair of conduits connecting one of said valves with the other.

2. A duplex motor comprising in its con- L struction a pair of driving cylinders, a pair of valves separately communicating with their respective cylinders, there being included a pair of passages connecting each valve with its respective cylinder, a pair of conduits connecting opposite ends of one of the cylinders with one of the valves, and a second pair of conduits connecting one of said valves with the other.

3. A duplex motor comprising in its construction a pair of driving cylinders, a separate valve for each cylinder, there being included a pair of passages connecting each valve with its respective cylinder, a pair of conduits connecting one of the cylinders with opposite ends of one of the valves, and a second pair of conduits connecting one of said valves with the other valve.

4. A duplex motor comprising in its construction a pair of driving cylinders, a separate valve for each cylinder, there being included a pair of passages connecting each valve with its respective cylinder, a pair of conduits connecting opposite ends of one of the cylinders with opposite ends of one of the valves, and a second pair of conduits connecting one of said valves with the opposite ends of the other.

5. A duplex motor comprising in its construction a pair of cylinders, a pair of valve inclosures, each having two separate inlet ports for pressure-water, the structure including a pair of passages connecting the opposite ends of each cylinder with one of the valve inclosures, a valve for each inclosure for directing the said pressure-water through said passages, there being a pair of passages communicating at one of their ends with one of the inclosures, said ends arranged to receive the pressure-water in said inclosures, their other ends terminating in opposite ends of the other inclosure, there also being a pair of passages each communicating w1th one end of the first named inclosure and terminating at their other ends in the cylinder having connection with the second described inclosure.

6. A duplex motor comprising in'its con struction a pair of cylinders and a valve for each, and including a pair of passages connecting the ends of each cylinder with its respective valve, there being a second pair of passages connecting opposite ends of one of the valves with the other valve, parts in the latter to direct pressure medium to said opposite ends of the first named valve, there being a pair of passages connecting one of the cylinders with opposite ends of the second described valve through which to convey pressure medium from said cylinder to operate the described part.

7. In a duplex motor the combination of a pair of cylinders and a piston in each, a valve for each cylinder, there being separate pairs of passages for each cylinder, each passage of a pair being connected into the ends of one of the cylinders, each pair of the passages terminating in a separate valve, means as a part of each valve for alternately bringing one of the passages into communication with a place of discharge, a pair of conduits connecting one of the cylinders with one of the valves and alternately brought in communication with the pressure medium from said cylinder by a movement of the piston of that cylinder for reversing the position of the described valve, and a pair of conduits connecting said valve with opposite ends of the opposite valve for introducing the pressure medium alternately to said opposite ends.

8. In a duplex motor the combination of a casting including a pair of cylinders, there being separate passages in said casting each terminating at one end in one end of one of the cylinders and each having a separate outer terminus, a casting overlying the terminals of the passages and including a pair of valve bores each of which is in communication with one of the pairs of said passages, there also being an escape passage for the pressure medium, a piston in each valve bore adapted to alternately bring one of the passages in communication with said escape passage and the other into communication with thepressure medium, a pair of conduits connecting one of the cylinders with opposite ends of one of the valves for introducing the pressure medium into said valve, and a pair of conduits connecting said valve with opposite ends of the opposite valve for conveying the pressure medium thereto. 7

9. A duplex pump comprising in its construction two main cylinders, a valve cylinder for each main cylinder, there being a passage connecting each end of each cylinder with one of the valve'cylinders and each passage having a' separate terminus within said valve cylinder, a piston in each valve cylinder creating two chambers each adapted to communicate with one of said passages, a conduit connecting one of the valve cylinders with one end of the other valve cylinder, a second conduit connecting the first named valve cylinder with the other end of the second named valve cylinder, and a pair of conduits connecting one of the main cylinders with opposite ends of the said. first named valve cylinder.

10. In a fluid pressure motor, the combination of two main cylinders, a pair of valves and an inclosure for each within which pressure medium isconstantly maintained to be directed to the said cylinders, there being a pair of passages connecting opposite ends of each main cylinder with one of the valve inclosures, each valve adapted to alternately direct said medium into opposite ends of opposite main cylinders through said passages, there being a pair of passages connecting one of the said main cylinders with opposite ends of one of the valve inclosures through which to introduce the medium to said inclosure from said main cylinder to operate the valve in said inclosure, there also being passages connecting said valve inclosure with the other inclosure through which to introduce to the latter the medium for operating its valve to direct the pressure medium from that valve to the main cylinder with which the inclosure of said valve is in communication.

11. In a motor operated by fluid pressure,

and valves for said motor operated for directing the pressure medium to the motor, the combination of a pair of main cylinders and a piston for each, a valve and an inclosure for the same for each cylinder, there being included a pair of passages for each valve connecting it with opposite ends of its respective main cylinder, there being a pair-of passages connecting one of the cylinders with opposite ends of one of the valve inclosures, the terminals of said passages at the cylinder being intermediate the ends of said cylinder said terminals being spaced from one another a distance substantially equal to the distance between the two heads of the piston of said cylinder, the piston in its movement adapted to direct the medium into the passages in alternate order, and a pair of passages connecting the said valve inclosure with opposite ends of the other valve inclosure and adapted to direct pressure alternately to said opposite ends.

12. In a fluid pressure motor, the combination of a pair of main driving cylinders and their pistons, and a pair of valve inclos ures through which to separately introduce pressure medium to the cylinders, there being passages connecting said inclosures with the cylinders for conducting said medium to the latter for operating their pistons in opposite directions, a valve in each inclosure, there being a pair of passages terminating at their ends in one of the cylinders and each terminating at its other end in opposite ends of one of the valve inclosures, there also being a pair of passages connecting the said inclosure with opposite ends of the other valve inclosure.

13. A duplex motor comprising in its construction a pair of cylinders and a pair of valve inclosures for receiving into them the pressure medium, each of the inclosures being connected by separate passages with opposite ends of one of the cylinders, a valve in each of the inclosures for directing the pressure medium of a given inclosure through either of the passages, there being a passage connected into each end of one of the inclosures, each said passage being connected at its other end into the opposite end of one of the cylinders, there also being a passage connected into each end of the other inclosure and communicating in the first inclosure at its place of reception of the pressure medium.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. WILKINS.

Witnesses:

W. I. SLEMMONS, EUNICE BEOKUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

